Apparatus for fluid transfer

Abstract

An apparatus for fluid transfer including a valve assembly, receivable by a container, having a check valve for unidirectional flow of material, and a release valve having a closed position, and an open position, a coupler, receivable by the valve assembly to move the release valve to an open position, having a sliding valve.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A dry-break valve for transferring fluid from a container and for preventing return of said fluid to said container, comprising: a valve assembly constructed to allow only removal of fluid from said container, said valve assembly including:   a valve assembly housing having an inlet end for positioning within said container and an outlet end,   a release valve movable between an open position and a closed position, coupled to said outlet end, a check valve coupled to said inlet end so as to prevent fluid flow into said container, and   an anti-fluid lock assembly for allowing said release valve to open when a liquid is present between said release valve and said check valve; and   a coupler removably receivable by said valve assembly.   
     
     
       2. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said release valve includes a release valve body having an inlet end, an outlet end, a bore extending therethrough, and a valve member positioned within said bore for movement between said open position and said closed position, said anti-fluid lock assembly further comprising a displacing means for allowing movement of said valve member in a direction towards said inlet end of said valve body. 
     
     
       3. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 2 wherein said valve assembly body includes a bore extending therethrough, a volume of said bore defined between said release valve and said check valve, and said displacing means includes a closed porous material located in said volume. 
     
     
       4. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 2 wherein said valve assembly body includes a bore extending therethrough, a volume of said bore defined between said release valve and said check valve, said displacing means includes a sliding check valve seat biased towards said outlet end of said valve assembly body, and slidable in a direction towards said inlet end. 
     
     
       5. A dry-break valve for transferring fluid from a container and for preventing return of said fluid to said container, comprising: a valve assembly constructed to allow only removal of fluid from said container, said valve assembly including;   a valve assembly housing having an inlet end for positioning within said container and an outlet end,   a release valve movable between an open position and a closed position, coupled to said outlet end, and   a check valve coupled to said inlet end so as to prevent fluid flow into said container;   a coupler removably receivable by said valve assembly; and   a tamper evident seal for sealing said valve assembly to said container, comprising:   a securing ring sealing said valve assembly to said container and having a central opening; and   a removeable center tab affixed to said securing ring, covering said central opening.   
     
     
       6. A dry-break valve for transferring fluid from a container and for preventing return of said fluid to said container, comprising: a valve assembly constructed to allow only removal of fluid from said container, said valve assembly including;   a valve assembly housing having an inlet end for positioning within said container and an outlet end,   a release valve movable between an open position and a closed position, coupled to said outlet end, and   a check valve coupled to said inlet end so as to prevent fluid flow into said container,   a coupler removably receivable by said valve assembly;   a break-away assembly for coupling said coupler to said valve assembly and for forcibly repelling said coupler from said valve assembly upon the application of torque to said coupler;   an anti-fluid lock assembly for allowing said release valve to open when a liquid is present between said release valve and said check valve; and   a vent assembly for allowing entry of an ambient external atmosphere into an interior of said container.   
     
     
       7. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 6 wherein said valve assembly includes an outlet end and said coupler includes an inlet end, and said break-away assembly further comprises retaining members for removably holding said inlet end of said coupler in engagement with said outlet end of said valve assembly. 
     
     
       8. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 7 wherein said anti-fluid lock assembly further comprising a displacing means for allowing movement of said valve member in a direction towards said inlet end of said valve body. 
     
     
       9. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 8 wherein said vent assembly further includes: a vent bore extending eccentrically through said valve assembly housing with respect to said bore of said valve assembly housing, providing fluid communication between said ambient external atmosphere and said container interior;   a valve member housed in said vent bore for interrupting fluid communication between said ambient external atmosphere and said container interior; and   actuator means for moving said vent valve member from a closed to an open position.   
     
     
       10. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 9 wherein said actuator means is a contact pin extending from said vent valve member, contacted by said coupler received by said valve member. 
     
     
       11. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 9 wherein said actuator means is a pressure differential built up between said container interior and said exterior ambient atmosphere. 
     
     
       12. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 9 wherein said valve assembly further includes a counterbore extending into said valve assembly housing from said outlet end, concentric with said bore and having a greater diameter than said bore, and a shoulder disposed between said bore and said counterbore, said vent bore extending from said shoulder to said inlet end of said valve assembly housing eccentric to said bore extending through said vent assembly housing. 
     
     
       13. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 12 further comprising: an annular valve seat mounted in said vent bore proximate said shoulder;   said vent valve member slidably mounted in said vent bore and biased in fluid sealing engagement with said valve seat, preventing fluid communication between said vent bore and said counterbore in said closed position; and   said actuator means is a contact pin extending from said vent valve member into said counterbore of said valve assembly housing.   
     
     
       14. A dry-break valve as claimed in claim 13 wherein a collar is slidably affixed to said coupler having a raised and a lowered position, for selective engagement with said contact pin in the lowered position. 
     
     
       15. A method of fluid transport comprising the steps of: providing a container having an interior and an opening;   filling said container with a fluid;   providing a valve assembly;   closing said opening with said valve assembly;   providing a tamper evident seal having a securing ring, a central opening formed in said securing ring, and a covering tab affixed to said securing ring, covering said central opening;   sealing said valve assembly with said tamper evident seal, wherein said securing ring seals said valve assembly to said container;   transporting said filled container to a user;   inspecting said tamper evident seal, and removing said covering tab from said securing ring when it has not been tampered with; and   removing said fluid from said container through said central opening.   
     
     
       16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the step of inspecting said tamper evident seal includes viewing said tamper evident seal and determining if said seal has been tampered with. 
     
     
       17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said step of determining if there is tampering includes determining if said covering tab has been removed. 
     
     
       18. A method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the steps of: returning empty container to a supplier;   inspecting said securing ring and removing said securing ring when it has not been tampered with;   removing said valve assembly; and   refilling said container and repeat previous steps.   
     
     
       19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the step of inspecting said securing ring includes viewing said securing ring and determining if said securing ring has been removed or deformed. 
     
     
       20. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the step of removing said fluid includes: providing a coupler receivable by said valve assembly;   engaging said valve assembly with said coupler through said central opening of said securing ring;   removing said fluid through said valve assembly and said coupler; and   disconnecting said coupler.   
     
     
       21. A valve assembly for regulating a flow of fluid, permitting fluid flow in only a single direction, said valve assembly comprising: a valve assembly housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, said single direction being from said inlet end to said outlet end;   a check valve coupled to said inlet end so as to prevent fluid flow in other than the single direction;   a release valve, coupled to said outlet end, said release valve including a release valve body having an inlet end, an outlet end, a bore extending therethrough, and a valve member positioned within said bore for movement between an open position, movement towards said check valve, and a closed position; and   an anti-fluid lock assembly including displacement means, for allowing movement of said valve member towards said check valve.   
     
     
       22. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein said valve assembly body includes a bore extending therethrough, a volume of said bore defined between said release valve and said check valve, and said displacing means includes a closed porous material located in said volume. 
     
     
       23. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein said valve assembly body includes a bore extending therethrough, a volume of said bore defined between said release valve and said check valve, said displacing means includes a sliding check valve seat biased towards said outlet end of said valve assembly body, and slidable in a direction towards said inlet end of said valve assembly body.